Cloning of a functional vesicular GABA and glycine transporter by screening of genome databases

Reduced gene expression of KCC2 accelerates axonal regeneration and reduces motor dysfunctions after tibial nerve severance and suturing

Gamma-aminobutyric acid and glycine (GABA/Gly) are predominantly inhibitory neurotransmitters in the mature central nervous system; however, they mediate membrane potential depolarization during development. These differences in actions depend on intracellular Cl- concentrations ([Cl-]i), which are primarily regulated by potassium chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2). After nerve injury, KCC2 expression markedly decreases and GABA/Gly mediate depolarization. Following nerve regeneration, KCC2 expression recovers and GABA/Gly become inhibitory, suggesting that KCC2 reduction and GABA/Gly excitation may be crucial for axonal regeneration. To directly clarify their involvement in regeneration, we analyzed recovery processes after tibial nerve severance and suturing between heterozygous KCC2 knockout mice (HT), whose KCC2 levels are halved, and their wild-type littermates (WT). Compared with WT mice, the sciatic functional index-indicating lower limb motor function-was significantly higher until 28 days after operation (D28) in HT mice. Furthermore, at D7, many neurofilament-positive fibers were elongated into the distal part of the ligated nerve in HT mice only, and myelinated axonal density was significantly higher at D21 and D28 in HT animals. Electron microscopy and galanin immunohistochemistry indicated a shorter nerve degeneration period in HT mice. Moreover, a less severe decrease in choline acetyltransferase was observed in HT mice. These results suggest that nerve degeneration and regeneration proceed more rapidly in HT mice, resulting in milder motor dysfunction. Via similar microglial activation, nerve surgery may reduce KCC2 levels more rapidly in HT mice, followed by earlier increased [Cl-]i and longer-lasting GABA/Gly excitation. Taken together, reduced KCC2 may accelerate nerve regeneration via GABA/Gly excitation.

Inhibitory Synaptic Influences on Developmental Motor Disorders

During development, GABA and glycine play major trophic and synaptic roles in the establishment of the neuromotor system. In this review, we summarise the formation, function and maturation of GABAergic and glycinergic synapses within neuromotor circuits during development. We take special care to discuss the differences in limb and respiratory neuromotor control. We then investigate the influences that GABAergic and glycinergic neurotransmission has on two major developmental neuromotor disorders: Rett syndrome and spastic cerebral palsy. We present these two syndromes in order to contrast the approaches to disease mechanism and therapy. While both conditions have motor dysfunctions at their core, one condition Rett syndrome, despite having myriad symptoms, has scientists focused on the breathing abnormalities and their alleviation-to great clinical advances. By contrast, cerebral palsy remains a scientific quagmire or poor definitions, no widely adopted model and a lack of therapeutic focus. We conclude that the sheer abundance of diversity of inhibitory neurotransmitter targets should provide hope for intractable conditions, particularly those that exhibit broad spectra of dysfunction-such as spastic cerebral palsy and Rett syndrome.

Serotonergic current responses of neurons in rat oculomotor neural integrators

The prepositus hypoglossi nucleus (PHN) and the interstitial nucleus of Cajal (INC) are involved in controlling horizontal and vertical gaze, respectively. Previous studies have shown that PHN neurons exhibit depolarized or hyperpolarized responses to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT). However, serotonergic modulation of INC neurons has not been examined. Furthermore, the relationship between 5-HT-induced responses and neuron types based on neurotransmitter phenotypes has not been clarified. In this study, we investigated 5-HT-induced current responses in PHN and INC neurons and the distributions of distinct current responses in different neuron types, using whole cell recordings of wild-type and transgenic rat brain stem slices. Local application of 5-HT to the cell soma confirmed that slow inward (SI) and slow outward (SO) currents were mediated by 5-HT₂ and 5-HT_1A receptors, respectively. Furthermore, fast inward (FI) currents that were mediated by 5-HT₃ receptors were observed. These three current responses were observed in both PHN and INC neurons. Analyses of the distributions of the three current responses revealed that fluorescently identified glutamatergic and inhibitory neurons in the PHN showed high proportions of SI and SO currents, respectively, whereas glutamatergic and inhibitory neurons in the INC showed mainly SO currents. When PHN and INC neurons were characterized on the basis of firing patterns, the proportions of the currents depended on the firing patterns. The different distributions of 5-HT-induced currents suggest distinct serotonergic modulation modes specific to horizontal and vertical gaze control.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Serotonergic modulation of vertical gaze control (interstitial nucleus of Cajal, INC) is less understood than that of horizontal gaze control (prepositus hypoglossal nucleus, PHN). Here, we report 5-HT-induced fast inward currents in addition to the previously reported slow inward and outward currents. The distributions of these currents in INC neurons based on neurotransmitter phenotypes differ from those in PHN neurons. These results suggest distinct serotonergic modulation modes in horizontal and vertical gaze control centers.

Investigating the Role of GABA in Neural Development and Disease Using Mice Lacking GAD67 or VGAT Genes

Normal development and function of the central nervous system involves a balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. Activity of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons is modulated by inhibitory signalling of the GABAergic and glycinergic systems. Mechanisms that regulate formation, maturation, refinement, and maintenance of inhibitory synapses are established in early life. Deviations from ideal excitatory and inhibitory balance, such as down-regulated inhibition, are linked with many neurological diseases, including epilepsy, schizophrenia, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorders. In the mammalian forebrain, GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, binding to GABA receptors, opening chloride channels and hyperpolarizing the cell. We review the involvement of down-regulated inhibitory signalling in neurological disorders, possible mechanisms for disease progression, and targets for therapeutic intervention. We conclude that transgenic models of disrupted inhibitory signalling—in GAD67^+/− and VGAT^−/− mice—are useful for investigating the effects of down-regulated inhibitory signalling in a range of neurological diseases.

A synaptomic analysis reveals dopamine hub synapses in the mouse striatum

Dopamine transmission is involved in reward processing and motor control, and its impairment plays a central role in numerous neurological disorders. Despite its strong pathophysiological relevance, the molecular and structural organization of the dopaminergic synapse remains to be established. Here, we used targeted labelling and fluorescence activated sorting to purify striatal dopaminergic synaptosomes. We provide the proteome of dopaminergic synapses with 57 proteins specifically enriched. Beyond canonical markers of dopamine neurotransmission such as dopamine biosynthetic enzymes and cognate receptors, we validated 6 proteins not previously described as enriched. Moreover, our data reveal the adhesion of dopaminergic synapses to glutamatergic, GABAergic or cholinergic synapses in structures we named “dopamine hub synapses”. At glutamatergic synapses, pre- and postsynaptic markers are significantly increased upon association with dopamine synapses. Dopamine hub synapses may thus support local dopaminergic signalling, complementing volume transmission thought to be the major mechanism by which monoamines modulate network activity.

The neurotransmitter dopamine is an important regulator of brain function. Here the authors describe “dopamine hub synapses”, where dopamine transmission may act in synergy with other neurotransmitters.

Developmental Formation of the GABAergic and Glycinergic Networks in the Mouse Spinal Cord

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine act as inhibitory neurotransmitters. Three types of inhibitory neurons and terminals, GABAergic, GABA/glycine coreleasing, and glycinergic, are orchestrated in the spinal cord neural circuits and play critical roles in regulating pain, locomotive movement, and respiratory rhythms. In this study, we first describe GABAergic and glycinergic transmission and inhibitory networks, consisting of three types of terminals in the mature mouse spinal cord. Second, we describe the developmental formation of GABAergic and glycinergic networks, with a specific focus on the differentiation of neurons, formation of synapses, maturation of removal systems, and changes in their action. GABAergic and glycinergic neurons are derived from the same domains of the ventricular zone. Initially, GABAergic neurons are differentiated, and their axons form synapses. Some of these neurons remain GABAergic in lamina I and II. Many GABAergic neurons convert to a coreleasing state. The coreleasing neurons and terminals remain in the dorsal horn, whereas many ultimately become glycinergic in the ventral horn. During the development of terminals and the transformation from radial glia to astrocytes, GABA and glycine receptor subunit compositions markedly change, removal systems mature, and GABAergic and glycinergic action shifts from excitatory to inhibitory.

Neuronal Excitability in Epileptogenic Zones Regulated by the Wnt/ Β-Catenin Pathway

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that involves abnormal and recurrent neuronal discharges, producing epileptic seizures. Recently, it has been proposed that the Wnt signaling pathway is essential for the central nervous system development and function because it modulates important processes such as hippocampal neurogenesis, synaptic clefting, and mitochondrial regulation. Wnt/β- catenin signaling regulates changes induced by epileptic seizures, including neuronal death. Several genetic studies associate Wnt/β-catenin signaling with neuronal excitability and epileptic activity. Mutations and chromosomal defects underlying syndromic or inherited epileptic seizures have been identified. However, genetic factors underlying the susceptibility of an individual to develop epileptic seizures have not been fully studied yet. In this review, we describe the genes involved in neuronal excitability in epileptogenic zones dependent on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Modulate Sound Evoked and Spontaneous Activity in the Mouse Inferior Colliculus

Little is known about the functions of Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs2/3) in the inferior colliculus (IC), a midbrain structure that is a major integration region of the central auditory system. We investigated how these receptors modulate sound-evoked and spontaneous firing in the mouse IC in vivo. We first performed immunostaining and tested hearing thresholds to validate vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT)-ChR2 transgenic mice on a mixed CBA/CaJ x C57BL/6J genetic background. Transgenic animals allowed for optogenetic cell-type identification. Extracellular single neuron recordings were obtained before and after pharmacological mGluR2/3 activation. We observed increased sound-evoked firing, as assessed by the rate-level functions (RLFs), in a subset of both GABAergic and non-GABAergic IC neurons following mGluR2/3 pharmacological activation. These neurons also displayed elevated spontaneous excitability and were distributed throughout the IC area tested, suggesting a widespread mGluR2/3 distribution in the mouse IC.

Functional and Biochemical Consequences of Disease Variants in Neurotransmitter Transporters: A Special Emphasis on Folding and Trafficking Deficits

Neurotransmitters, such as γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, acetyl choline, glycine and the monoamines, facilitate the crosstalk within the central nervous system. The designated neurotransmitter transporters (NTTs) both release and take up neurotransmitters to and from the synaptic cleft. NTT dysfunction can lead to severe pathophysiological consequences, e.g. epilepsy, intellectual disability, or Parkinson’s disease. Genetic point mutations in NTTs have recently been associated with the onset of various neurological disorders. Some of these mutations trigger folding defects in the NTT proteins. Correct folding is a prerequisite for the export of NTTs from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the subsequent trafficking to their pertinent site of action, typically at the plasma membrane. Recent studies have uncovered some of the key features in the molecular machinery responsible for transporter protein folding, e.g., the role of heat shock proteins in fine-tuning the ER quality control mechanisms in cells. The therapeutic significance of understanding these events is apparent from the rising number of reports, which directly link different pathological conditions to NTT misfolding. For instance, folding-deficient variants of the human transporters for dopamine or GABA lead to infantile parkinsonism/dystonia and epilepsy, respectively. From a therapeutic point of view, some folding-deficient NTTs are amenable to functional rescue by small molecules, known as chemical and pharmacological chaperones.

Vesicular Release of GABA by Mammalian Horizontal Cells Mediates Inhibitory Output to Photoreceptors

Feedback inhibition by horizontal cells regulates rod and cone photoreceptor calcium channels that control their release of the neurotransmitter glutamate. This inhibition contributes to synaptic gain control and the formation of the center-surround antagonistic receptive fields passed on to all downstream neurons, which is important for contrast sensitivity and color opponency in vision. In contrast to the plasmalemmal GABA transporter found in non-mammalian horizontal cells, there is evidence that the mechanism by which mammalian horizontal cells inhibit photoreceptors involves the vesicular release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Historically, inconsistent findings of GABA and its biosynthetic enzyme, L-glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) in horizontal cells, and the apparent lack of surround response block by GABAergic agents diminished support for GABA's role in feedback inhibition. However, the immunolocalization of the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) in the dendritic and axonal endings of horizontal cells that innervate photoreceptor terminals suggested GABA was released via vesicular exocytosis. To test the idea that GABA is released from vesicles, we localized GABA and GAD, multiple SNARE complex proteins, synaptic vesicle proteins, and Cav channels that mediate exocytosis to horizontal cell dendritic tips and axonal terminals. To address the perceived relative paucity of synaptic vesicles in horizontal cell endings, we used conical electron tomography on mouse and guinea pig retinas that revealed small, clear-core vesicles, along with a few clathrin-coated vesicles and endosomes in horizontal cell processes within photoreceptor terminals. Some small-diameter vesicles were adjacent to the plasma membrane and plasma membrane specializations. To assess vesicular release, a functional assay involving incubation of retinal slices in luminal VGAT-C antibodies demonstrated vesicles fused with the membrane in a depolarization- and calcium-dependent manner, and these labeled vesicles can fuse multiple times. Finally, targeted elimination of VGAT in horizontal cells resulted in a loss of tonic, autaptic GABA currents, and of inhibitory feedback modulation of the cone photoreceptor Cai, consistent with the elimination of GABA release from horizontal cell endings. These results in mammalian retina identify the central role of vesicular release of GABA from horizontal cells in the feedback inhibition of photoreceptors.

Glutamate, d-(-)-2-Amino-5-Phosphonopentanoic Acid, and N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Do Not Directly Modulate Glycine Receptors

Replication studies play an essential role in corroborating research findings and ensuring that subsequent experimental works are interpreted correctly. A previously published paper indicated that the neurotransmitter glutamate, along with the compounds N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and d-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5), acts as positive allosteric modulators of inhibitory glycine receptors. The paper further suggested that this form of modulation would play a role in setting the spinal inhibitory tone and influencing sensory signaling, as spillover of glutamate onto nearby glycinergic synapses would permit rapid crosstalk between excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Here, we attempted to replicate this finding in primary cultured spinal cord neurons, spinal cord slice, and Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing recombinant human glycine receptors. Despite extensive efforts, we were unable to reproduce the finding that glutamate, AP5, and NMDA positively modulate glycine receptor currents. We paid careful attention to critical aspects of the original study design and took into account receptor saturation and protocol deviations such as animal species. Finally, we explored possible explanations for the experimental discrepancy. We found that solution contamination with a high-affinity modulator such as zinc is most likely to account for the error, and we suggest methods for preventing this kind of misinterpretation in future studies aimed at characterizing high-affinity modulators of the glycine receptor. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: A previous study indicates that glutamate spillover onto inhibitory synapses can directly interact with glycine receptors to enhance inhibitory signalling. This finding has important implications for baseline spinal transmission and may play a role when chronic pain develops. However, we failed to replicate the results and did not observe glutamate, d-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, or N-methyl-d-aspartate modulation of native or recombinant glycine receptors. We ruled out various sources for the discrepancy and found that the most likely cause is solution contamination.

Molecular, Structural, Functional, and Pharmacological Sites for Vesicular Glutamate Transporter Regulation

Vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) control quantal size of glutamatergic transmission and have been the center of numerous studies over the past two decades. VGLUTs contain two independent transport modes that facilitate glutamate packaging into synaptic vesicles and phosphate (Pi) ion transport into the synaptic terminal. While a transmembrane proton electrical gradient established by a vacuolar-type ATPase powers vesicular glutamate transport, recent studies indicate that binding sites and flux properties for chloride, potassium, and protons within VGLUTs themselves regulate VGLUT activity as well. These intrinsic ionic binding and flux properties of VGLUTs can therefore be modulated by neurophysiological conditions to affect levels of glutamate available for release from synapses. Despite their extraordinary importance, specific and high-affinity pharmacological compounds that interact with these sites and regulate VGLUT function, distinguish between the various modes of transport, and the different isoforms themselves, are lacking. In this review, we provide an overview of the physiologic sites for VGLUT regulation that could modulate glutamate release in an over-active synapse or in a disease state.

Different expression and subcellular localization of vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter in ducts of major salivary glands: An in situ study in mice

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of GABA (□-amino butyric acid)-signaling in the salivary glands by localization of vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter, a key molecule in GABA-synthesis.

DESIGN

Parotid, sublingual and submandibular glands of mice at various postnatal stages were examined in immuno-light and electron microscopy as well as immuno-blotting.

RESULTS

Expression for vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter was detected in parotid and sublingual glands of both sexes and female submandibular gland throughout postnatal development, while it was negligible in male submandibular glands at and after puberty. The expression in female submandibular glands attenuated after testosterone injection. The immunoreactivity was localized in striated ductal cells, but not acinar cells, in the salivary glands, and it occurred in association with intracellular and plasma membranes of the cells. It also occurred in myoepithelial and vascular smooth muscle cells.

CONCLUSIONS

GABA-signaling was suggested to be a significant signaling pathway in salivary ductal cells, which was suppressed in male submandibular glands at and after puberty. The suppression in the submandibular duct was by testosterone. In addition, the participation of vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter in GABA signaling through plasma membranes of the ductal cells was suggested. The significance of occurrence of the immunoreactivity in myoepithelial and smooth muscle cells remains to be further elucidated in terms of implication in GABA signaling.

Hyper-Formation of GABA and Glycine Co-Releasing Terminals in the Mouse Cerebellar Nuclei after Deprivation of GABAergic Inputs from Purkinje Cells

GABA and glycine are inhibitory neurotransmitters. However, the mechanisms underlying the formation of GABAergic and glycinergic synapses remain unclear. The influence of GABAergic input deprivation on inhibitory terminal formation was investigated using Purkinje cell (PC)-specific vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) knockout (L7-VGAT) mice, in which GABA release from PCs diminishes in an age-dependent manner. We compared the late development of GABAergic and glycinergic terminals in the cerebellar nucleus (CN) between control and L7-VGAT mice. In the control CN, the density of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD)-positive dots remained unchanged between postnatal 2 months (P2M) and 13 months (P13M), whereas glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2)-positive dots increased in density during this time frame. No difference in the density of GlyT2-positive dots was observed between control and L7-VGAT mice at P2M, but the density was significantly higher in the L7-VGAT fastigial nuclei (FN) than the control FN at P13M. When VGAT was absent from PC terminals, GlyT2-positive dots included GAD and VGAT and formed synapses. These results indicated that GABAergic terminals were formed by P2M, glycinergic terminals were actively formed after P2M, and more glycinergic terminals were formed in the L7-VGAT FN than in the control FN, suggesting that the increased glycinergic terminals may derive from interneurons within the FN and may also release GABA. These results suggest that the deprivation of GABAergic inputs from PCs may accelerate the formation of co-releasing terminals derived from interneurons and that the inhibitory terminal numbers and types may be regulated by the quantity of functional GABAergic inputs.

Selective Brain Distribution and Distinctive Synaptic Architecture of Dual Glutamatergic-GABAergic Neurons

For decades, it has been thought that glutamate and GABA are released by distinct neurons. However, some mouse neurons innervating the lateral habenula (LHb) co-release glutamate and GABA. Here, we mapped the distribution of neurons throughout the rat brain that co-express vesicular transporters for the accumulation of glutamate (VGluT2) or GABA (VGaT) and for GABA synthesis (GAD). We found concentrated groups of neurons that co-express VGluT2, VGaT, and GAD mRNAs within subdivisions of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), entopeduncular (EPN), and supramammillary (SUM) nuclei. Single axon terminals established by VTA, EPN, or SUM neurons form a common synaptic architecture involving asymmetric (putative excitatory) and symmetric (putative inhibitory) synapses. Within the LHb, which receives co-transmitted glutamate and GABA from VTA and EPN, VGluT2 and VGaT are distributed on separate synaptic vesicles. We conclude that single axon terminals from VGluT2 and VGaT co-expressing neurons co-transmit glutamate and GABA from distinct synaptic vesicles at independent synapses.

Local protein synthesis is a ubiquitous feature of neuronal pre- and postsynaptic compartments

There is ample evidence for localization of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and protein synthesis in neuronal dendrites; however, demonstrations of these processes in presynaptic terminals are limited. We used expansion microscopy to resolve pre- and postsynaptic compartments in rodent neurons. Most presynaptic terminals in the hippocampus and forebrain contained mRNA and ribosomes. We sorted fluorescently labeled mouse brain synaptosomes and then sequenced hundreds of mRNA species present within excitatory boutons. After brief metabolic labeling, >30% of all presynaptic terminals exhibited a signal, providing evidence for ongoing protein synthesis. We tested different classic plasticity paradigms and observed distinct patterns of rapid pre- and/or postsynaptic translation. Thus, presynaptic terminals are translationally competent, and local protein synthesis is differentially recruited to drive compartment-specific phenotypes that underlie different forms of plasticity.

Glutamate/GABA co-release selectively influences postsynaptic glutamate receptors in mouse cortical neurons

Cultured rat cortical neurons co-expressing VGLUT1 and VGAT (mixed synapses) co-release Glu and GABA. Here, mixed synapses were studied in cultured mouse cortical neurons to verify whether in mice mixed synapses co-release Glu and GABA, and to gain insight into how they may influence excitation/inhibition balance. Results showed the existence of synapses and autapses that co-release Glu and GABA in cultured mouse cortical neurons, and the ability of both neurotransmitters to evoke postsynaptic responses mediated by ionotropic receptors. We studied the short-term plasticity of glutamatergic, GABAergic, and mixed responses and we found that the kinetics of mixPSC amplitude depression was similar to that observed in EPSCs, but it was different from that of IPSCs. We found similar presynaptic release characteristics in glutamatergic and mixed synapses. Analysis of postsynaptic features, obtained by measuring AMPAR- and NMDAR-mediated currents, showed that AMPAR-mediated currents were significantly higher in pure glutamatergic than in mixed synapses, whereas NMDAR-mediated currents were not significantly different from those measured in mixed synapses. Overall, our findings demonstrate that glutamatergic and mixed synapses share similar electrophysiological properties. However, co-release of GABA and Glu influences postsynaptic ionotropic glutamatergic receptor subtypes, thus selectively influencing AMPAR-mediated currents. These findings strengthen the view that mixed neurons can play a key role in CNS development and in maintaining the excitation-inhibition balance.

Mouse Parabrachial Neurons Signal a Relationship between Bitter Taste and Nociceptive Stimuli

Taste and somatosensation both mediate protective behaviors. Bitter taste guides avoidance of ingestion of toxins while pain sensations, such as noxious heat, signal adverse conditions to ward off harm. Although brain pathways for taste and somatosensation are typically studied independently, prior data suggest that they intersect, potentially reflecting their common protective role. To investigate this, we applied electrophysiologic and optogenetic techniques in anesthetized mice of both sexes to evaluate relationships between oral somatosensory and taste activity in the parabrachial nucleus (PbN), implicated for roles in gustation and pain. Spikes were recorded from taste-active PbN neurons tested with oral delivery of thermal and chemesthetic stimuli, including agonists of nocisensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels on somatosensory fibers. Gustatory neurons were also tested to follow electrical pulse stimulation of an oral somatosensory region of the spinal trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc), which projects to the PbN. Neurons composed classic taste groups, including sodium, electrolyte, appetitive, or bitter cells. Across groups, most neurons spiked to Vc pulse stimulation, implying that trigeminal projections reach PbN gustatory neurons. Among such cells, a subpopulation responsive to the bitter taste stimuli quinine and cycloheximide, and aversive concentrations of sodium, cofired to agonists of nocisensitive TRP channels, including capsaicin, mustard oil, and noxious heat. Such neurons populated the lateral PbN. Further, nociceptive activity in PbN bitter taste neurons was suppressed during optogenetic-assisted inhibition of the Vc, implying convergent trigeminal input contributed to such activity. Our results reveal a novel role for PbN gustatory cells in cross-system signaling related to protection.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Prior data suggest that gustatory and trigeminal neural pathways intersect and overlap in the parabrachial area. However, no study has directly examined such overlap and why it may exist. Here we found that parabrachial gustatory neurons can receive afferent projections from trigeminal nuclei and fire to oral nociceptive stimuli that excite somatosensory receptors and fibers. Activation to aversive nociceptive stimuli in gustatory cells was associated with responding to behaviorally avoided bitter tastants. We were further able to show that silencing trigeminal projections inhibited nociceptive activity in parabrachial bitter taste neurons. Our results imply that in the parabrachial area, there is predictable overlap between taste and somatosensory processing related to protective coding and that classically defined taste neurons contribute to this process.

A half century of γ-aminobutyric acid

γ-aminobutyric acid has become one of the most widely known neurotransmitter molecules in the brain over the last 50 years, recognised for its pivotal role in inhibiting neural excitability. It emerged from studies of crustacean muscle and neurons before its significance to the mammalian nervous system was appreciated. Now, after five decades of investigation, we know that most neurons are γ-aminobutyric-acid-sensitive, it is a cornerstone of neural physiology and dysfunction to γ-aminobutyric acid signalling is increasingly documented in a range of neurological diseases. In this review, we briefly chart the neurodevelopment of γ-aminobutyric acid and its two major receptor subtypes: the γ-aminobutyric acidA and γ-aminobutyric acidB receptors, starting from the humble invertebrate origins of being an 'interesting molecule' acting at a single γ-aminobutyric acid receptor type, to one of the brain's most important neurochemical components and vital drug targets for major therapeutic classes of drugs. We document the period of molecular cloning and the explosive influence this had on the field of neuroscience and pharmacology up to the present day and the production of atomic γ-aminobutyric acidA and γ-aminobutyric acidB receptor structures. γ-Aminobutyric acid is no longer a humble molecule but the instigator of rich and powerful signalling processes that are absolutely vital for healthy brain function.

Expression and localization of VIAAT in distal uriniferous tubular epithelium of mouse

Vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (VIAAT) is a transmembrane transporter which is responsible for the storage of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or glycine in synaptic vesicles. According to recent studies, GABA is known to be expressed in the kidney. For clear understanding of the intra-renal GABA signaling, the localization of VIAAT was examined in the present study. Intense immunoreactivity was found largely confined to the distal tubule epithelia, especially distinct in the inner medulla, although the immunoreactivity was discerned more or less in all tubules and glomeruli. No distinct immunoreactivity was seen in capillary endothelia or interstitial fibroblasts. In immuno-DAB and immuno-gold electron microscopy, the immunoreaction was found at the basal infoldings of plasma membranes and basal portions of the lateral plasma membranes, but not in any vesicles or vacuoles within the distal tubular cells. The significance of the enigmatic finding, localization of a vesicular molecule on selected portions of the plasma membrane of distal tubular cells, was discussed in view of the possibility of paracrine or autocrine effects of GABA on some other uriniferous tubular cells or interstitial cells.

Heterogeneous Signaling at GABA and Glycine Co-releasing Terminals

The corelease of several neurotransmitters from a single synaptic vesicle has been observed at many central synapses. Nevertheless, the signaling synergy offered by cotransmission and the mechanisms that maintain the optimal release and detection of neurotransmitters at mixed synapses remain poorly understood, thus limiting our ability to interpret changes in synaptic signaling and identify molecules important for plasticity. In the brainstem and spinal cord, GABA and glycine cotransmission is facilitated by a shared vesicular transporter VIAAT (also named VGAT), and occurs at many immature inhibitory synapses. As sensory and motor networks mature, GABA/glycine cotransmission is generally replaced by either pure glycinergic or GABAergic transmission, and the functional role for the continued corelease of GABA and glycine is unclear. Whether or not, and how, the GABA/glycine content is balanced in VIAAT-expressing vesicles from the same terminal, and how loading variability effects the strength of inhibitory transmission is not known. Here, we use a combination of loose-patch (LP) and whole-cell (WC) electrophysiology in cultured spinal neurons of GlyT2:eGFP mice to sample miniature inhibitory post synaptic currents (mIPSCs) that originate from individual GABA/glycine co-releasing synapses and develop a modeling approach to illustrate the gradual change in mIPSC phenotypes as glycine replaces GABA in vesicles. As a consistent GABA/glycine balance is predicted if VIAAT has access to both amino-acids, we test whether vesicle exocytosis from a single terminal evokes a homogeneous population of mixed mIPSCs. We recorded mIPSCs from 18 individual synapses and detected glycine-only mIPSCs in 4/18 synapses sampled. The rest (14/18) were co-releasing synapses that had a significant proportion of mixed GABA/glycine mIPSCs with a characteristic biphasic decay. The majority (9/14) of co-releasing synapses did not have a homogenous phenotype, but instead signaled with a combination of mixed and pure mIPSCs, suggesting that there is variability in the loading and/or storage of GABA and glycine at the level of individual vesicles. Our modeling predicts that when glycine replaces GABA in synaptic vesicles, the redistribution between the peak amplitude and charge transfer of mIPSCs acts to maintain the strength of inhibition while increasing the temporal precision of signaling.

The VAChTY49N mutation provides insecticide-resistance but perturbs evoked cholinergic neurotransmission in Drosophila

Global agriculture and the control of insect disease vectors have developed with a heavy reliance on insecticides. The increasing incidence of resistance, for virtually all insecticides, threatens both food supply and effective control of insect borne disease. CASPP ((5-chloro-1’-[(E)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)allyl]spiro[indoline-3,4’-piperidine]-1-yl}-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)methanone)) compounds are a potential new class of neuroactive insecticide specifically targeting the Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter (VAChT). Resistance to CASPP, under laboratory conditions, has been reported following either up-regulation of wildtype VAChT expression or the presence of a specific point mutation (VAChT^Y49N). However, the underlying mechanism of CASPP-resistance, together with the consequence to insect viability of achieving resistance, is unknown. In this study, we use electrophysiological characterisation of cholinergic release at Drosophila larval interneuron→motoneuron synapses to investigate the physiological implications of these two identified modes of CASPP resistance. We show that both VAChT up-regulation or the expression of VAChT^Y49N increases miniature (mini) release frequency. Mini frequency appears deterministic of CASPP activity. However, maintenance of SV release is not indicative of resistance in all cases. This is evidenced through expression of syntaxin or complexin mutants (sytx^3-61/cpx^SH1) that show similarly high mini release frequency but are not resistant to CASPP. The VAChT^Y49N mutation additionally disrupts action potential-evoked cholinergic release and fictive locomotor patterning through depletion of releasable synaptic vesicles. This observation suggests a functional trade-off for this point mutation, which is not seen when wildtype VAChT is up-regulated.

Embryonic development of GABAergic terminals in the mouse hypothalamic nuclei involved in feeding behavior

The inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) plays important roles in energy balance and feeding behavior in the hypothalamus. To reveal the time course of GABAergic network formation, we examined the immunohistochemical localization of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), a GABAergic neuron marker, vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT), a marker of inhibitory terminals, and K+-Cl--cotransporter2 (KCC2), which shifts GABA action from excitation to inhibition, in the developing mouse hypothalamus. GABAergic terminals, seen as GAD- and VGAT-positive dots, increased in density during embryonic development. Moreover, the onset of KCC2 localization was almost concomitant with GABAergic terminal formation, and KCC2-positive profiles increased in density during development. This suggested that after the formation of GABAergic terminals, GABAergic action may change to inhibition in the hypothalamus. This maturation appears to proceed as follows: the lateral hypothalamus (LH) matures first, followed by the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) by the time of birth, while the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and the arcuate nucleus (Arc) are not fully mature at the time of birth. Our findings suggest that GABAergic networks in the "feeding center" (LH) and the "exit" (PVN) may mature before birth, while those in the "satiety center" (VMH) and "higher control center" (Arc) may mature after birth.

GlyT1 determines the glycinergic phenotype of amacrine cells in the mouse retina

The amino acid glycine acts as a neurotransmitter at both inhibitory glycinergic and excitatory glutamatergic synapses predominantly in caudal regions of the central nervous system but also in frontal brain regions and the retina. After its presynaptic release and binding to postsynaptic receptors at caudal glycinergic synapses, two high-affinity glycine transporters GlyT1 and GlyT2 remove glycine from the extracellular space. Glycinergic neurons express GlyT2, which is essential for the presynaptic replenishment of the transmitter, while glial-expressed GlyT1 was shown to control the extracellular glycine concentration. Here we show that GlyT1 expressed by glycinergic amacrine cells of the retina does not only contribute to the control of the extracellular glycine concentration in the retina but is also essential for the maintenance of the glycinergic transmitter phenotype of this cell population. Specifically, loss of GlyT1 from the glycinergic AII amacrine cells impairs AII-mediated glycinergic neurotransmission and alters regulation of the extracellular glycine concentration, without changes in the overall distribution and/or size of glycinergic synapses. Taken together, our results suggest that GlyT1 expressed by amacrine cells in the retina combines functions covered by neuronal GlyT2 and glial GlyT1 at caudal glycinergic synapses.

Activity-dependent formation of a vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter gradient in the superior olivary complex of NMRI mice

BACKGROUND

In the mammalian superior olivary complex (SOC), synaptic inhibition contributes to the processing of binaural sound cues important for sound localization. Previous analyses demonstrated a tonotopic gradient for postsynaptic proteins mediating inhibitory neurotransmission in the lateral superior olive (LSO), a major nucleus of the SOC. To probe, whether a presynaptic molecular gradient exists as well, we investigated immunoreactivity against the vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (VIAAT) in the mouse auditory brainstem.

RESULTS

Immunoreactivity against VIAAT revealed a gradient in the LSO and the superior paraolivary nucleus (SPN) of NMRI mice, with high expression in the lateral, low frequency processing limb and low expression in the medial, high frequency processing limb of both nuclei. This orientation is opposite to the previously reported gradient of glycine receptors in the LSO. Other nuclei of the SOC showed a uniform distribution of VIAAT-immunoreactivity. No gradient was observed for the glycine transporter GlyT2 and the neuronal protein NeuN. Formation of the VIAAT gradient was developmentally regulated and occurred around hearing-onset between postnatal days 8 and 16. Congenital deaf Claudin14 -/- mice bred on an NMRI background showed a uniform VIAAT-immunoreactivity in the LSO, whereas cochlear ablation in NMRI mice after hearing-onset did not affect the gradient. Additional analysis of C57Bl6/J, 129/SvJ and CBA/J mice revealed a strain-specific formation of the gradient.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results identify an activity-regulated gradient of VIAAT in the SOC of NRMI mice. Its absence in other mouse strains adds a novel layer of strain-specific features in the auditory system, i.e. tonotopic organization of molecular gradients. This calls for caution when comparing data from different mouse strains frequently used in studies involving transgenic animals. The presence of strain-specific differences offers the possibility of genetic mapping to identify molecular factors involved in activity-dependent developmental processes in the auditory system. This would provide an important step forward concerning improved auditory rehabilitation in cases of congenital deafness.

Few, Activity-Dependent, and Ubiquitous VGLUT1/VGAT Terminals in Rat and Mouse Brain

In the neocortex of adult rats VGLUT1 and VGAT co-localize in axon terminals which form both symmetric and asymmetric synapses. They are expressed in the same synaptic vesicles which participate in the exo-endocytotic cycle. Virtually nothing, however, is known on whether VGLUT1/VGAT co-localization occurs in other brain regions. We therefore mapped the distribution of terminals co-expressing VGLUT1/VGAT in the striatum, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellar and cerebral cortices of rats and mice. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that, in both rat and mouse brain, VGLUT1/VGAT+ terminals were present in all brain regions studied, and that their percentage was low and comparable in both species. These results provide the first demonstration that co-expression of VGLUT1 and VGAT is a widespread phenomenon. Since VGLUT1/VGAT+ axon terminals are regulated in an activity-dependent manner and co-release glutamate and GABA, we hypothesize that, though not numerous, they can contribute to regulating excitation/inhibition balance in physiological conditions, thereby playing a role in several neurological and psychiatric diseases.

Segregation of glutamatergic and cholinergic transmission at the mixed motoneuron Renshaw cell synapse

In neonatal mice motoneurons excite Renshaw cells by releasing both acetylcholine (ACh) and glutamate. These two neurotransmitters activate two types of nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) (the homomeric α₇ receptors and the heteromeric α*ß* receptors) as well as the two types of glutamate receptors (GluRs) (AMPARs and NMDARs). Using paired recordings, we confirm that a single motoneuron can release both transmitters on a single post-synaptic Renshaw cell. We then show that co-transmission is preserved in adult animals. Kinetic analysis of miniature EPSCs revealed quantal release of mixed events associating AMPARs and NMDARs, as well as α₇ and α*ß* nAChRs, but no evidence was found for mEPSCs associating nAChRs with GluRs. Bayesian Quantal Analysis (BQA) of evoked EPSCs showed that the number of functional contacts on a single Renshaw cell is more than halved when the nicotinic receptors are blocked, confirming that the two neurotransmitters systems are segregated. Our observations can be explained if ACh and glutamate are released from common vesicles onto spatially segregated post-synaptic receptors clusters, but a pre-synaptic segregation of cholinergic and glutamatergic release sites is also possible.

Glycine Transporters in Glia Cells: Structural Studies

Glycine, besides exerting essential metabolic functions, is an important inhibitory neurotransmitter in caudal areas of the central nervous system and also a positive neuromodulator at excitatory glutamate-mediated synapses. Glial cells provide metabolic support to neurons and modulate synaptic activity. Six transporters belonging to three solute carrier families (SLC6, SLC38, and SLC7) are capable of transporting glycine across the glial plasma membrane. The unique glial glycine-selective transporter GlyT1 (SLC6) is the main regulator of synaptic glycine concentrations, assisted by the neuronal GlyT2. The five additional glycine transporters ATB^0,+, SNAT1, SNAT2, SNAT5, and LAT2 display broad amino acid specificity and have differential contributions to glial glycine transport. Glial glycine transporters are divergent in sequence but share a similar architecture displaying the 5 + 5 inverted fold originally characterized in the leucine transporter LeuT. The availability of protein crystals solved at high resolution for prokaryotic and, more recently, eukaryotic homologues of this superfamily has advanced significantly our understanding of the mechanism of glycine transport.

The dynamics of GABA signaling: Revelations from the circadian pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus

Virtually every neuron within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) communicates via GABAergic signaling. The extracellular levels of GABA within the SCN are determined by a complex interaction of synthesis and transport, as well as synaptic and non-synaptic release. The response to GABA is mediated by GABA_A receptors that respond to both phasic and tonic GABA release and that can produce excitatory as well as inhibitory cellular responses. GABA also influences circadian control through the exclusively inhibitory effects of GABA_B receptors. Both GABA and neuropeptide signaling occur within the SCN, although the functional consequences of the interactions of these signals are not well understood. This review considers the role of GABA in the circadian pacemaker, in the mechanisms responsible for the generation of circadian rhythms, in the ability of non-photic stimuli to reset the phase of the pacemaker, and in the ability of the day-night cycle to entrain the pacemaker.

Distinct development of the glycinergic terminals in the ventral and dorsal horns of the mouse cervical spinal cord

In the spinal cord, glycine and γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) are inhibitory neurotransmitters. However, the ontogeny of the glycinergic network remains unclear. To address this point, we examined the developmental formation of glycinergic terminals by immunohistochemistry for glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2), a marker of glycinergic terminals, in developing mouse cervical spinal cord. Furthermore, the developmental localization of GlyT2 was compared with that of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), a marker of GABAergic terminals, and vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT), a marker of inhibitory terminals, by single and double immunolabeling. GlyT2-positive dots (glycinergic terminals) were first detected in the marginal zone on embryonic day 14 (E14). In the ventral horn, they were detected at E16 and increased in observed density during postnatal development. Until postnatal day 7 (P7), GAD-positive dots (GABAergic terminals) were dominant and GlyT2 immunolabeling was localized at GAD-positive dots. During the second postnatal week, GABAergic terminals markedly decreased and glycinergic terminals became dominant. In the dorsal horn, glycinergic terminals were detected at P0 in lamina IV and P7 in lamina III and developmentally increased. GlyT2 was also localized at GAD-positive dots, and colocalizing dots were dominant at P21. VGAT-positive dots (inhibitory terminals) continued to increase until P21. These results suggest that GABAergic terminals first appear during embryonic development and may often change to colocalizing terminals throughout the gray matter during development. The colocalizing terminals may remain in the dorsal horn, whereas in the ventral horn, colocalizing terminals may give rise to glycinergic terminals.

Unique pH dynamics in GABAergic synaptic vesicles illuminates the mechanism and kinetics of GABA loading

GABA acts as the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain, shaping neuronal and circuit activity. For sustained synaptic transmission, synaptic vesicles (SVs) are required to be recycled and refilled with neurotransmitters using an H(+) electrochemical gradient. However, neither the mechanism underlying vesicular GABA uptake nor the kinetics of GABA loading in living neurons have been fully elucidated. To characterize the process of GABA uptake into SVs in functional synapses, we monitored luminal pH of GABAergic SVs separately from that of excitatory glutamatergic SVs in cultured hippocampal neurons. By using a pH sensor optimal for the SV lumen, we found that GABAergic SVs exhibited an unexpectedly higher resting pH (∼6.4) than glutamatergic SVs (pH ∼5.8). Moreover, unlike glutamatergic SVs, GABAergic SVs displayed unique pH dynamics after endocytosis that involved initial overacidification and subsequent alkalization that restored their resting pH. GABAergic SVs that lacked the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) did not show the pH overshoot and acidified further to ∼6.0. Comparison of luminal pH dynamics in the presence or absence of VGAT showed that VGAT operates as a GABA/H(+) exchanger, which is continuously required to offset GABA leakage. Furthermore, the kinetics of GABA transport was slower (τ > 20 s at physiological temperature) than that of glutamate uptake and may exceed the time required for reuse of exocytosed SVs, allowing reuse of incompletely filled vesicles in the presence of high demand for inhibitory transmission.

Lmx1b is required for the glutamatergic fates of a subset of spinal cord neurons

Background

Alterations in neurotransmitter phenotypes of specific neurons can cause imbalances in excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to diseases. Therefore, the correct specification and maintenance of neurotransmitter phenotypes is vital. As with other neuronal properties, neurotransmitter phenotypes are often specified and maintained by particular transcription factors. However, the specific molecular mechanisms and transcription factors that regulate neurotransmitter phenotypes remain largely unknown.

Methods

In this paper we use single mutant, double mutant and transgenic zebrafish embryos to elucidate the functions of Lmx1ba and Lmx1bb in the regulation of spinal cord interneuron neurotransmitter phenotypes.

Results

We demonstrate that lmx1ba and lmx1bb are both expressed in zebrafish spinal cord and that lmx1bb is expressed by both V0v cells and dI5 cells. Our functional analyses demonstrate that these transcription factors are not required for neurotransmitter fate specification at early stages of development, but that in embryos with at least two lmx1ba and/or lmx1bb mutant alleles there is a reduced number of excitatory (glutamatergic) spinal interneurons at later stages of development. In contrast, there is no change in the numbers of V0v or dI5 cells. These data suggest that lmx1b-expressing spinal neurons still form normally, but at least a subset of them lose, or do not form, their normal excitatory fates. As the reduction in glutamatergic cells is only seen at later stages of development, Lmx1b is probably required either for the maintenance of glutamatergic fates or to specify glutamatergic phenotypes of a subset of later forming neurons. Using double labeling experiments, we also show that at least some of the cells that lose their normal glutamatergic phenotype are V0v cells. Finally, we also establish that Evx1 and Evx2, two transcription factors that are required for V0v cells to acquire their excitatory neurotransmitter phenotype, are also required for lmx1ba and lmx1bb expression in these cells, suggesting that Lmx1ba and Lmx1bb act downstream of Evx1 and Evx2 in V0v cells.

Conclusions

Lmx1ba and Lmx1bb function at least partially redundantly in the spinal cord and three functional lmx1b alleles are required in zebrafish for correct numbers of excitatory spinal interneurons at later developmental stages. Taken together, our data significantly enhance our understanding of how spinal cord neurotransmitter fates are regulated.

Presynaptic control of inhibitory neurotransmitter content in VIAAT containing synaptic vesicles

In mammals, fast inhibitory neurotransmission is carried out by two amino acid transmitters, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine. The higher brain uses only GABA, but in the spinal cord and brain stem both GABA and glycine act as inhibitory signals. In some cases GABA and glycine are co-released from the same neuron where they are co-packaged into synaptic vesicles by a shared vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter, VIAAT (also called vGAT). The vesicular content of all other classical neurotransmitters (eg. glutamate, monoamines, acetylcholine) is determined by the presence of a specialized vesicular transporter. Because VIAAT is non-specific, the phenotype of inhibitory synaptic vesicles is instead predicted to be dependent on the relative concentration of GABA and glycine in the cytosol of the presynaptic terminal. This predicts that changes in GABA or glycine supply should be reflected in vesicle transmitter content but as yet, the mechanisms that control GABA versus glycine uptake into synaptic vesicles and their potential for modulation are not clearly understood. This review summarizes the most relevant experimental data that examines the link between GABA and glycine accumulation in the presynaptic cytosol and the inhibitory vesicle phenotype. The accumulated evidence challenges the hypothesis that vesicular phenotype is determined simply by the competition of inhibitory transmitter for VIAAT and instead suggest that the GABA/glycine balance in vesicles is dynamically regulated.

Evx1 and Evx2 specify excitatory neurotransmitter fates and suppress inhibitory fates through a Pax2-independent mechanism

BACKGROUND

For neurons to function correctly in neuronal circuitry they must utilize appropriate neurotransmitters. However, even though neurotransmitter specificity is one of the most important and defining properties of a neuron we still do not fully understand how neurotransmitter fates are specified during development. Most neuronal properties are determined by the transcription factors that neurons express as they start to differentiate. While we know a few transcription factors that specify the neurotransmitter fates of particular neurons, there are still many spinal neurons for which the transcription factors specifying this critical phenotype are unknown. Strikingly, all of the transcription factors that have been identified so far as specifying inhibitory fates in the spinal cord act through Pax2. Even Tlx1 and Tlx3, which specify the excitatory fates of dI3 and dI5 spinal neurons work at least in part by down-regulating Pax2.

METHODS

In this paper we use single and double mutant zebrafish embryos to identify the spinal cord functions of Evx1 and Evx2.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that Evx1 and Evx2 are expressed by spinal cord V0v cells and we show that these cells develop into excitatory (glutamatergic) Commissural Ascending (CoSA) interneurons. In the absence of both Evx1 and Evx2, V0v cells still form and develop a CoSA morphology. However, they lose their excitatory fate and instead express markers of a glycinergic fate. Interestingly, they do not express Pax2, suggesting that they are acquiring their inhibitory fate through a novel Pax2-independent mechanism.

CONCLUSIONS

Evx1 and Evx2 are required, partially redundantly, for spinal cord V0v cells to become excitatory (glutamatergic) interneurons. These results significantly increase our understanding of the mechanisms of neuronal specification and the genetic networks involved in these processes.

Co-existence of Functionally Different Vesicular Neurotransmitter Transporters

The vesicular transmitter transporters VGLUT, VGAT, VMAT2 and VAChT, define phenotype and physiological properties of neuronal subtypes. VGLUTs concentrate the excitatory amino acid glutamate, VGAT the inhibitory amino acid GABA, VMAT2 monoamines, and VAChT acetylcholine (ACh) into synaptic vesicle (SV). Following membrane depolarization SV release their content into the synaptic cleft. A strict segregation of vesicular transporters is mandatory for the precise functioning of synaptic communication and of neuronal circuits. In the last years, evidence accumulates that subsets of neurons express more than one of these transporters leading to synaptic co-release of different and functionally opposing transmitters and modulation of synaptic plasticity. Synaptic co-existence of transporters may change during pathological scenarios in order to ameliorate misbalances in neuronal activity. In addition, evidence increases that transporters also co-exist on the same vesicle providing another layer of regulation. Generally, vesicular transmitter loading relies on an electrochemical gradient ΔμH⁺ driven by the proton ATPase rendering the lumen of the vesicle with respect to the cytosol positive (Δψ) and acidic (ΔpH). While the activity of VGLUT mainly depends on the Δψ component, VMAT, VGAT and VAChT work best at a high ΔpH. Thus, a vesicular synergy of transporters depending on the combination may increase or decrease the filling of SV with the principal transmitter. We provide an overview on synaptic co-existence of vesicular transmitter transporters including changes in the excitatory/inhibitory balance under pathological conditions. Additionally, we discuss functional aspects of vesicular synergy of transmitter transporters.

Signaling molecules of the CNS as targets of autoimmunity

Ion channels and receptors are the fundamental basis for neuronal communication in the nervous system and are important targets of autoimmunity. The different neuronal domains contain a unique repertoire of voltage-gated Na(+) (Nav), Ca(2+) (Cav), and K(+) (Kv), as well as other K(+) channels and hyperpolarization-gated cyclic nucleotide-regulated channels. The distinct ion channel distribution defines the electrophysiologic properties of different subtypes of neurons. The different neuronal compartments also express neurotransmitter-gated ion channels, or ionotropic receptors, as well as G protein-coupled receptors. Of particular relevance in the central nervous system are excitatory glutamate receptors and inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid and glycine receptors. The interactions among different ion channels and receptors regulate neuronal excitability; frequency and pattern of firing of action potentials (AP); propagation of the AP along the axon; neurotransmitter release at synaptic terminals; AP backpropagation from the axon initial segment to the somatodendritic domain; dendritic integration of synaptic signals; and use-dependent plasticity.

Neurotransmission plays contrasting roles in the maturation of inhibitory synapses on axons and dendrites of retinal bipolar cells

Neuronal output is modulated by inhibition onto both dendrites and axons. It is unknown whether inhibitory synapses at these two cellular compartments of an individual neuron are regulated coordinately or separately during in vivo development. Because neurotransmission influences synapse maturation and circuit development, we determined how loss of inhibition affects the expression of diverse types of inhibitory receptors on the axon and dendrites of mouse retinal bipolar cells. We found that axonal GABA but not glycine receptor expression depends on neurotransmission. Importantly, axonal and dendritic GABAA receptors comprise distinct subunit compositions that are regulated differentially by GABA release: Axonal GABAA receptors are down-regulated but dendritic receptors are up-regulated in the absence of inhibition. The homeostatic increase in GABAA receptors on bipolar cell dendrites is pathway-specific: Cone but not rod bipolar cell dendrites maintain an up-regulation of receptors in the transmission deficient mutants. Furthermore, the bipolar cell GABAA receptor alterations are a consequence of impaired vesicular GABA release from amacrine but not horizontal interneurons. Thus, inhibitory neurotransmission regulates in vivo postsynaptic maturation of inhibitory synapses with contrasting modes of action specific to synapse type and location.

Differential expression of metabotropic glutamate and GABA receptors at neocortical glutamatergic and GABAergic axon terminals

Metabotropic glutamate (Glu) receptors (mGluRs) and GABAB receptors are highly expressed at presynaptic sites. To verify the possibility that the two classes of metabotropic receptors contribute to axon terminals heterogeneity, we studied the localization of mGluR1α, mGluR5, mGluR2/3, mGluR7, and GABAB1 in VGLUT1-, VGLUT2-, and VGAT- positive terminals in the cerebral cortex of adult rats. VGLUT1-positive puncta expressed mGluR1α (∼5%), mGluR5 (∼6%), mGluR2/3 (∼22%), mGluR7 (∼17%), and GABAB1 (∼40%); VGLUT2-positive terminals expressed mGluR1α (∼10%), mGluR5 (∼11%), mGluR2/3 (∼20%), mGluR7 (∼28%), and GABAB1 (∼25%); whereas VGAT-positive puncta expressed mGluR1α (∼27%), mGluR5 (∼24%), mGluR2/3 (∼38%), mGluR7 (∼31%), and GABAB1 (∼19%). Control experiments ruled out the possibility that postsynaptic mGluRs and GABAB1 might have significantly biased our results. We also performed functional assays in synaptosomal preparations, and showed that all agonists modify Glu and GABA levels, which return to baseline upon exposure to antagonists. Overall, these findings indicate that mGluR1α, mGluR5, mGluR2/3, mGluR7, and GABAB1 expression differ significantly between glutamatergic and GABAergic axon terminals, and that the robust expression of heteroreceptors may contribute to the homeostatic regulation of the balance between excitation and inhibition.

hVGAT-mCherry: A novel molecular tool for analysis of GABAergic neurons derived from human pluripotent stem cells

BACKGROUND

GABAergic synaptic transmission is known to play a critical role in the assembly of neuronal circuits during development and is responsible for maintaining the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signaling in the brain during maturation into adulthood. Importantly, defects in GABAergic neuronal function and signaling have been linked to a number of neurological diseases, including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. With patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based models of neurological disease, it is now possible to investigate the disease mechanisms that underlie deficits in GABAergic function in affected human neurons. To that end, tools that enable the labeling and purification of viable GABAergic neurons from human pluripotent stem cells would be of great value.

RESULTS

To address the need for tools that facilitate the identification and isolation of viable GABAergic neurons from the in vitro differentiation of iPSC lines, a cell type-specific promoter-driven fluorescent reporter construct was developed that utilizes the human vesicular GABA transporter (hVGAT) promoter to drive the expression of mCherry specifically in VGAT-expressing neurons. The transduction of iPSC-derived forebrain neuronal cultures with the hVGAT promoter-mCherry lentiviral reporter construct specifically labeled GABAergic neurons. Immunocytochemical analysis of hVGAT-mCherry expression cells showed significant co-labeling with the GABAergic neuronal markers for endogenous VGAT, GABA, and GAD67. Expression of mCherry from the VGAT promoter showed expression in several cortical interneuron subtypes to similar levels. In addition, an effective and reproducible protocol was developed to facilitate the fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS)-mediated purification of high yields of viable VGAT-positive cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies demonstrate the utility of the hVGAT-mCherry reporter construct as an effective tool for studying GABAergic neurons differentiated in vitro from human pluripotent stem cells. This approach could provide a means of obtaining large quantities of viable GABAergic neurons derived from disease-specific hiPSCs that could be used for functional assays or high-throughput screening of small molecule libraries.

Defining inhibitory neurone function in respiratory circuits: opportunities with optogenetics?

Pharmacological and mathematical modelling studies support the view that synaptic inhibition in mammalian brainstem respiratory circuits is essential for generating normal and stable breathing movements. GABAergic and glycinergic neurones are known components of these circuits but their precise functional roles have not been established, especially within key microcircuits of the respiratory pre-Bötzinger (pre-BötC) and Bötzinger (BötC) complexes involved in phasic control of respiratory pump and airway muscles. Here, we review briefly current concepts of relevant complexities of inhibitory synapses and the importance of synaptic inhibition in the operation of these microcircuits. We highlight results and limitations of classical pharmacological studies that have suggested critical functions of synaptic inhibition. We then explore the potential opportunities for optogenetic strategies that represent a promising new approach for interrogating function of inhibitory circuits, including a hypothetical wish list for optogenetic approaches to allow expedient application of this technology. We conclude that recent technical advances in optogenetics should provide a means to understand the role of functionally select and regionally confined subsets of inhibitory neurones in key respiratory circuits such as those in the pre-BötC and BötC.

Conditional targeting of medium spiny neurons in the striatal matrix

The striatum serves as the main input to the basal ganglia, and is key for the regulation of motor behaviors, compulsion, addiction, and various cognitive and emotional states. Its deterioration is associated with degenerative disorders such as Huntington's disease. Despite its apparent anatomical uniformity, it consists of intermingled cell populations, which have precluded straightforward anatomical sub-classifications adhering to functional dissections. Approximately 95% of the striatal neurons are inhibitory projection neurons termed medium spiny neurons (MSNs). They are commonly classified according to their expression of either dopamine receptor D1 or D2, which also determines their axonal projection patterns constituting the direct and indirect pathway in the basal ganglia. Immunohistochemical patterns have further indicated compartmentalization of the striatum to the striosomes and the surrounding matrix, which integrate MSNs of both the D1 and D2 type. Here, we present a transgenic mouse line, Gpr101-Cre, with Cre recombinase activity localized to matrix D1 and D2 MSNs. Using two Gpr101-Cre founder lines with different degrees of expression in the striatum, we conditionally deleted the vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (VIAAT), responsible for storage of GABA and glycine in synaptic vesicles. Partial ablation of VIAAT (in ~36% of MSNs) resulted in elevated locomotor activity compared to control mice, when provoked with the monoamine reuptake inhibitor cocaine. Near complete targeting of matrix MSNs led to profoundly changed motor behaviors, which increased in severity as the mice aged. Moreover, these mice had exaggerated muscle rigidity, retarded growth, increased rate of spontaneous deaths, and defective memory. Therefore, our data provide a link between dysfunctional GABA signaling of matrix MSNs to specific behavioral alterations, which are similar to the symptoms of Huntington's disease.

Electrophysiological and morphological properties of neurons in the prepositus hypoglossi nucleus that express both ChAT and VGAT in a double-transgenic rat model

Although it has been proposed that neurons that contain both acetylcholine (ACh) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are present in the prepositus hypoglossi nucleus (PHN), these neurons have not been characterized because of the difficulty in identifying them. In the present study, PHN neurons that express both choline acetyltransferase and the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) were identified using double-transgenic rats, in which the cholinergic and inhibitory neurons express the fluorescent proteins tdTomato and Venus, respectively. To characterize the neurons that express both tdTomato and Venus (D+ neurons), the afterhyperpolarization (AHP) profiles and firing patterns of these neurons were investigated via whole-cell recordings of brainstem slice preparations. Regarding the three AHP profiles and four firing patterns that the D+ neurons exhibited, an AHP with an afterdepolarization and a firing pattern that exhibited a delay in the generation of the first spike were the preferential properties of these neurons. In the three morphological types classified, the multipolar type that exhibited radiating dendrites was predominant among the D+ neurons. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that the VGAT-immunopositive axonal boutons that expressed tdTomato were primarily located in the dorsal cap of inferior olive (IO) and the PHN. Although the PHN receives cholinergic inputs from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, D+ neurons were absent from these brain areas. Together, these results suggest that PHN neurons that co-express ACh and GABA exhibit specific electrophysiological and morphological properties, and innervate the dorsal cap of the IO and the PHN.

Expression and cellular localization of the voltage-gated calcium channel α2δ3 in the rodent retina

High-voltage-activated calcium channels are hetero-oligomeric protein complexes that mediate multiple cellular processes, including the influx of extracellular Ca(2+), neurotransmitter release, gene transcription, and synaptic plasticity. These channels consist of a primary α(1) pore-forming subunit, which is associated with an extracellular α(2)δ subunit and an intracellular β auxiliary subunit, which alter the gating properties and trafficking of the calcium channel. The cellular localization of the α(2)δ(3) subunit in the mouse and rat retina is unknown. In this study using RT-PCR, a single band at ∼ 305 bp corresponding to the predicted size of the α(2)δ(3) subunit fragment was found in mouse and rat retina and brain homogenates. Western blotting of rodent retina and brain homogenates showed a single 123-kDa band. Immunohistochemistry with an affinity-purified antibody to the α(2)δ(3) subunit revealed immunoreactive cell bodies in the ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer and immunoreactive processes in the inner plexiform layer and the outer plexiform layer. α(2)δ(3) immunoreactivity was localized to multiple cell types, including ganglion, amacrine, and bipolar cells and photoreceptors, but not horizontal cells. The expression of the α(2)δ(3) calcium channel subunit to multiple cell types suggests that this subunit participates widely in Ca-channel-mediated signaling in the retina.

Genetic ablation of VIAAT in glycinergic neurons causes a severe respiratory phenotype and perinatal death

Both glycinergic and GABAergic neurons require the vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter (VIAAT) for synaptic vesicle filling. Presynaptic GABA concentrations are determined by the GABA-synthesizing enzymes glutamate decarboxylase (GAD)65 and GAD67, whereas the presynaptic glycine content depends on the plasma membrane glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2). Although severely impaired, glycinergic transmission is not completely absent in GlyT2-knockout mice, suggesting that other routes of glycine uptake or de novo synthesis of glycine exist in presynaptic terminals. To investigate the consequences of a complete loss of glycinergic transmission, we generated a mouse line with a conditional ablation of VIAAT in glycinergic neurons by crossing mice with loxP-flanked VIAAT alleles with a GlyT2-Cre transgenic mouse line. Interestingly, conditional VIAAT knockout (VIAAT cKO) mice were not viable at birth. In addition to the dominant respiratory failure, VIAAT cKO showed an umbilical hernia and a cleft palate. Immunohistochemistry revealed an almost complete depletion of VIAAT in the brainstem. Electrophysiology revealed the absence of both spontaneous glycinergic and GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents from hypoglossal motoneurons. Our results demonstrate that the deletion of VIAAT in GlyT2-Cre expressing neurons also strongly affects GABAergic transmission and suggest a large overlap of the glycinergic and the GABAergic neuron population during early development in the caudal parts of the brain.

Acetylcholine controls GABA-, glutamate-, and glycine-dependent giant depolarizing potentials that govern spontaneous motoneuron activity at the onset of synaptogenesis in the mouse embryonic spinal cord

A remarkable feature of early neuronal networks is their endogenous ability to generate spontaneous rhythmic electrical activity independently of any external stimuli. In the mouse embryonic SC, this activity starts at an embryonic age of ∼ 12 d and is characterized by bursts of action potentials recurring every 2-3 min. Although these bursts have been extensively studied using extracellular recordings and are known to play an important role in motoneuron (MN) maturation, the mechanisms driving MN activity at the onset of synaptogenesis are still poorly understood. Because only cholinergic antagonists are known to abolish early spontaneous activity, it has long been assumed that spinal cord (SC) activity relies on a core network of MNs synchronized via direct cholinergic collaterals. Using a combination of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and extracellular recordings in E12.5 isolated mouse SC preparations, we found that spontaneous MN activity is driven by recurrent giant depolarizing potentials. Our analysis reveals that these giant depolarizing potentials are mediated by the activation of GABA, glutamate, and glycine receptors. We did not detect direct nAChR activation evoked by ACh application on MNs, indicating that cholinergic inputs between MNs are not functional at this age. However, we obtained evidence that the cholinergic dependency of early SC activity reflects a presynaptic facilitation of GABA and glutamate synaptic release via nicotinic AChRs. Our study demonstrates that, even in its earliest form, the activity of spinal MNs relies on a refined poly-synaptic network and involves a tight presynaptic cholinergic regulation of both GABAergic and glutamatergic inputs.

Dual-transmitter neurons: functional implications of co-release and co-transmission

Co-transmission, the ability of a neuron to release multiple transmitters, has long been recognized in selected circuits. However, the release of multiple primary neurotransmitters from a single neuron is only beginning to be appreciated. Here we consider recent examples of co-transmission as well as co-release-the packaging of multiple neurotransmitters into a single vesicle. The properties associated with each mode of release greatly enhance the possible action of such neurons within circuits. The functional importance of dual- (or multi-) transmitter neurons extends beyond actions on postsynaptic receptors, due in part to differential spatial and temporal profiles of each neurotransmitter. Recent evidence also suggests that the dual-transmitter phenotype can be dynamically regulated during development and following injury or disease.

Increased hippocampal excitability and impaired spatial memory function in mice lacking VGLUT2 selectively in neurons defined by tyrosine hydroxylase promoter activity

Three populations of neurons expressing the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (Vglut2) were recently described in the A10 area of the mouse midbrain, of which two populations were shown to express the gene encoding, the rate-limiting enzyme for catecholamine synthesis, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH).One of these populations ("TH-Vglut2 Class1") also expressed the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene while one did not ("TH-Vglut2 Class2"), and the remaining population did not express TH at all ("Vglut2-only"). TH is known to be expressed by a promoter which shows two phases of activation, a transient one early during embryonal development, and a later one which gives rise to stable endogenous expression of the TH gene. The transient phase is, however, not specific to catecholaminergic neurons, a feature taken to advantage here as it enabled Vglut2 gene targeting within all three A10 populations expressing this gene, thus creating a new conditional knockout. These knockout mice showed impairment in spatial memory function. Electrophysiological analyses revealed a profound alteration of oscillatory activity in the CA3 region of the hippocampus. In addition to identifying a novel role for Vglut2 in hippocampus function, this study points to the need for improved genetic tools for targeting of the diversity of subpopulations of the A10 area.